Thats a real question. There is everything from a TV tray to a He Shed out there. I've been watching a wood ship build from a guy doing it in his car. All depends on the individual, space available / desired and how much you want to spend.
I'll show you mine, what I have. I added to and changed mine over the years until now. The pics might give you some ideas.
The space is about 8 feet by 10 feet, not counting the entry area and the space under the stairs used for the stash. It was a storage room in the basement that was full of junk until I comandeered it for the model room. Kind of an odd shape room. That said, I also have a 2500 square foot, heated shop, seperate from the house, that was used for my business before I retired, containing woodworking and metal working machinery, hand tools and supplies. I do any "dirty" work out there in an attempt to keep as much dust out of the model room.
I've keyed the pics to this drawing.
The following is the indoor model room, pictures taken from left to right around the room. Kinda hard to do in a small area, but here it is.
The floor is covered with white vinyl tile and caulked around the edges. I can even find clear plastic 1/700 landing gear wheels on it, as well as tiny PE bits, plus, it's easy to clean.
The entry door #1
Left of the main bench #2
Left end of the bench #3
Middle of bench #4
Right corner of bench #5
Spray booth area #6
Under the steps stash area #7 & #8
The wall behind the 3rd picture #9
Good lighting is important. I have a nice high back office chair to sit in, and a radio/player for music, The booth vents outdoors, compressor under the booth.
No matter how much room or how well organized, I quickly run out of space and usually wind up building in a 2' X 3' cluttered area ( pic #3).
EJ
Completed - 1/525 Round Two Lindberg repop of T2A tanker done as USS MATTAPONI, USS ESSEX 1/700 Hasegawa Dec 1942, USS Yorktown 1/700 Trumpeter 1943. In The Yards - USS ESSEX 1/700 Hasegawa 1945, USS ESSEX 1/700 Dragon 1944, USS ESSEX 1/700 Trumpeter 1945, USS ESSEX 1/540 Revell (vintage) 1962, USS ESSEX 1/350 Trumpeter 1942, USS ESSEX LHD-2 as commissioned, converted from USS Wasp kit Gallery Models. Plus 35 other plastic and wood ship kits.